The Strengths Based Approach, also known as Asset Based Community Development, focuses on the strengths, capacities and assets of communities so that they may be architects of their own better futures.

Major donors play an important role in supporting our work to end poverty, promote justice and uphold dignity. Caritas Australia values meaningful partnerships, and we are able to tailor different options for major donor support.

Africa Emergency Appeal

Many parts of Africa are experiencing a major food security crisis, with 23 million people on the brink of famine. Your donation to the Africa Emergency Appeal will enable Caritas Australia to provide assistance to communities needing immediate assistance. Learn more

Emergency Response Fund

Emergency responses

India

Caritas Australia has supported local partner, Caritas India in providing emergency aid including distribution of food and non-food items, Health and sanitation, hygienic water, shelter and livelihood restoration in response to the floods that has affected the state of Odisha, India in Aug 2014.

Reports as of 16th August 2014, state that 46 persons have died and 3,612,712 persons from 5,441 villages have been affected as a result.

DRC

Caritas Australia has supported the emergency response led by Caritas Goma aiming to improve the living conditions, reduce vulnerability and preserve the dignity of individuals and communities affected by the crisis and providing immediate assistance to 350 new displaced households, most vulnerable in the locality of Kinigi through the distribution of household and hygienic kits, based on the needs assessment carried out in July 2014.

Kenya

Caritas Australia has implemented a range of short and long-term assistance programs and has been working in partnership with Trocaire on the Caritas Meru Water and Sanitation Project that aims to reduce poverty and increase the resilience of the community to mitigate against the effects of climate change, in addition to providing emergency food supplies, access to clean drinking water and livelihood opportunities to thousands severely affected by drought.

Sierra Leone

Caritas Australia has supported the international Caritas network's response to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. The outbreak began in Sierra Leone in May 2014 and has taken the lives of over 8,000 people.

Initially, our emergency response aimed at preventing the spread of the disease. We have now moved into a recovery phase, helping orphaned and vulnerable children reintegrate into communities, and providing support for sustainable livelihoods.

The Philippines

Two years after Typhoon Haiyan struck the Philippines in November 2013 there is still some immediate recovery work ongoing in particular in the areas of attending to the identified recovery gaps in the areas of shelter, WASH, livelihoods and ecosystem services. However, the significant part of the work has shifted to sustained community managed Disaster Risk Reduction (CMDRR). The end goal is building and sustaining resiliency through various recovery and rehabilitation interventions in shelter, WASH, livelihoods, ecosystem services and capacity building.

Sudan

Caritas Australia has contributed to a coordinated international effort to help the many civilians forced to flee their homes.

The region of Sudan has been beset with internal conflict for decades. Even after the independence of South Sudan in 2011, fighting has continued in both countries. In December 2013, conflict in parts of South Sudan escalated significantly leaving around 900,000 people displaced according to the UN.

Gaza

Following an escalation in violence across Israel and the Palestinian Territories from mid June 2014, Caritas Australia has supported local partner Caritas Jerusalem in directly helping over 15,000 people suffering from the conflict, many of whom were civilians.

The response has included delivering vital medical and psychosocial services, providing essential medicines to hospitals and medical centres, and food assistance.

Nepal

A 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Nepal on 25 April 2015. It is estimated that over 8 million people were affected. The response by Caritas Nepal with support from CRS, Caritas India and Caritas Australia consisted of immediate shelter needs, non-food items, with a focus on provision of water and hygiene kits in seven of the worst affected districts.

Syria

Caritas Australia has provided urgent humanitarian support to Syrian refugees and host communities in Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey.

The ongoing conflict in Syria has led to one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world today. The UNHCR reports that the number of Syrians registered as refugees has reached nearly 2.4 million (January 2014) [1].

Central African Republic

Caritas Australia has responded to the urgent humanitarian situation in Central African Republic to address both immediate humanitarian needs as well as longer term considerations such as the distribution of seeds and training in agricultural techniques, educational support, peacebuilding, advocacy and capacity building.

After a coup in March 2013, the country is in crisis, with violence and lawlessness widespread.

Indonesia

Caritas Australia has supported local partner, Caritas Indonesia in response to the eruption of Mount Sinabung, taking casualties on 1st February 2014.

The program’s main focus has been on alleviating suffering and conducting activities aimed at meeting short term needs (food and health check-ups) and medium term needs (income generation) in the two targeted villages Batukarang village and Selandi village.

Solomon Islands

Caritas Australia- Solomon Islands office has been in collaboration with church partners and providing shelter at 2 evacuation shelters located in Honiara for 82 families and also providing access to food, water, sanitation and hygiene to families directly affected and displaced as a result of the floods in April 2014 in Solomon Islands.

Early recovery activities include WASH, food security, education and improved health and hygiene.

Bangladesh

Caritas Australia has supported local partner, Caritas Bangladesh in providing emergency relief and addressing the immediate needs in terms of food and cash and most importantly shelter, to Norwesters Victims in Mymensingh, a short-lived storm locally known as Kalbaishakhi, that hit Netrokona, Sunamganj, Sylhet and Rajbari districts of Bangladesh at late night on April 25th, 2014 and also to flood affected communities caused by heavy rains since August 13, 2014.

Cambodia

Caritas Australia has supported Caritas Cambodia to meet the basic emergency needs of at least 10,000 deportees especially women and children in the areas of WASH, food, transportation and temporary shelter.

Cambodia is experiencing a massive return of irregular Cambodian migrants at the Poi Pet border-crossing due to the Thai political unrest and the number of deportees has apparently increased to 25,000- 30,000 per day.

Burma

Caritas Australia has supported the “Emergency Response & Protection for Kachin Conflict IDPs” program that addresses the plight of Internally Displaced Families (IDP) families in Kachin State in Northern Myanmar and Northern Shan State in Burma.

The conflict has displaced an estimated 130,000 men, women and children who are in need of food, shelter, health, sanitation, education, and livelihoods support.

Iraq

Caritas Australia has supported the response led by Caritas Iraq, which aims to help people in northern Iraq affected by the crisis. The emergency response includes providing food, non-food items, psychosocial support, and resources to help people prepare for winter temperatures.

More than 1.2 million people have fled their homes in northern and central Iraq as part of the ongoing Middle East crisis.

Boxing Day Tsunami

The international Caritas confederation has been one of the largest non-government agencies to respond to one of the most devastating natural disasters on record.

On 26 December 2004, a 9.3 magnitude earthquake in the Indian Ocean triggered a massive tsunami that devastated coastal communities in Sri Lanka, India, Thailand, the Maldives, Myanmar, Malaysia, and even affected parts of Africa.

Haiti

Caritas Australia has been working through the local and international Caritas network on the ground to bring hope and security to the nation through focusing on long-term projects to rebuild the country after the third deadliest earthquake in history.

The earthquake, measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale, devastated Haiti on January 12, 2010, killing over 200,000 people and leaving a further 600,000 injured or homeless.

Sri Lanka

Caritas Australia has been supporting Caritas Sri Lanka in providing immediate emergency assistance to alleviate the most immediate basic needs to over 14,500 families devastated by the floods in Sri Lanka.

Torrential rains in late December 2014 have led to widespread damage across the country and more than 1 million people have been displaced.

Malawi

Malawi experienced one of its worst food security crises during the 2014/2015 growing season as a result of floods, prolonged dry spells and strong winds. In January 2015 severe flooding occurred across 15 districts in Malawi. More than 600,000 people were affected by food insecurity and over 100,000 people displaced.

While we’re continuing to help our local partners provide essentials such as shelter and water, sanitation and hygiene materials, we are also assisting with a food security program from January to July, 2016.

Ethiopia

One of the worst droughts in 50 years, millions of people are in need of food assistance and thousands of children suffering from severe malnutrition in Ethiopia.

Caritas Australia has been assisting with recovery and rehabilitation measures such as crop and livestock production and productivity improvement, asset building, income generation and water development, aimed to improve the resilience capacity of the affected areas in this project.

Ukraine

Ukraine experiences a continuation of conflict following escalation of hostilities in Spring 2014 that has resulted in 1.5 million IDPs in need of assistance to meet their basic needs during the winter period.

Caritas Australia has been working with Caritas Ukraine who will be implementing the Ukraine-winterisation relief project though local agencies on the ground. The focus is on basic winterisation items, healthcare, psychological consultations, heating, and basic home dwelling repair.

Zimbabwe

The El Nino weather condition in mid 2016 has affected crop and livestock production in Mberengwa district. Of these ward 16 and 28 are the hardest hit by the drought.

Caritas Australia is assisting with a program to ensure food security for the most vulnerable by providing food handouts, school feeding and cash transfers for 95 households (466 people) and school wet feeding for 488 children.

Previous Emergencies

Over the years, Caritas Australia has implemented a variety of emergency responses and appeals. Our emergency response work continues long after the headlines, and we work with local communities for their long-term recovery. Explore some of the emergencies we have responded to via the links below.

"We have heard what God is saying to us through you and through your sufferings.. you are not abandoned.”

South Sudanese Bishops

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Preparing for emergencies

People living in developing countries are more likely to be affected by natural disasters than developed countries. Caritas Australia helps communities prepare for the impact of disasters before they strike.

Caritas Australia is the international aid and development organisation of the Catholic Church in Australia. We are a member of the Fundraising Institute of Australia, the Australian Council for International Development (ACFID) and the Church Agencies Network. We are endorsed by the Australian Taxation Office as a Deductible Gift Recipient (ABN 90 970 605 069) with charity status. Donations of $2 or more are tax deductible.